Sealing device for tubes and/or circular tanks

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sealing device, on tubular and/or circular tanks, for firing membrane valves, for cleaning sleeve filters, which comprises, inside a tubular and/or circular tank, a firing pipe, one end of which is connected to a membrane solenoid valve and the other end of which tightly projects from the tank. The device is characterized in that it comprises a fitting, connected to the firing pipe and including a recess for housing therein sealing means for providing a sealed coupling with the outer surface of the tank, as well as a sealing coupling surface for the solenoid valve. Moreover, a washer element is provided, which can be coupled to the other end of the firing pipe, and supports sealing means for providing a sealed connection between the firing pipe and the tank.

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a sealing device, on tubular and/or circular tanks, for firing membrane valves, for cleaning sleeve filters. As is known, for cleaning sleeve filters there are at present used membrane valves, coupled to firing pipes, said valves being applied to a tank containing pressurized air. With tubular and/or circular tanks, in order to provide the sealing, there are at present welded flanges on the surface of the tank, at the fitting region of the firing pipe and at the connection region of the solenoid valve, so as to provide an abutment surface adapted for the desired sealed connection. Such a machining is very expensive and requires a very great skillness by the operator, who must weld at critical regions. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the aim of the present invention is to overcome the above mentioned drawbacks, by providing a sealing device, on tubular and/or circular tanks, for firing membrane valves, for cleaning sleeve filters, which allows the possibility of easily and quickly coupling the membrane valve and firing pipe without performing any welding operations. Within the scope of the above mentioned aim, a main object of the present invention is to provide such a sealing device which is specifically designed for greatly simplifying all of the machining operations, while providing very high sealing, reliability and use safety characteristics, and which, moreover, can be easily made starting from easily commercially available elements and materials and which, moreover, is very competitive from a mere economic standpoint. The problem of avoiding the welding at the level of the branching connection of pipes is already known in the field of plumbing and hydraulics. Different solutions for sealing joints used for branching gas or liquids are proposed by the prior art. GB-A-13997, GB-A-951823 and US-A-3812910 teach a method for improving the joining or connecting branch pipes by means of flanges formed on the branch pipe and entered through corresponding openings in main pipe. The sealing is thereby assured by the pressure exercised by the flanges on the inner wall of the main pipe, improved by washer elements and/or gaskets. A solution to engage the outer wall of the main pipe of a branch connection is, instead, given in FR-A-340586. The above cited prior art does not,anyway, discloses how to effect a connection between a tank and a firing pipe inside said tank, by means of a connected valve. US-A-4, 376, 523 discloses a sealing device according to the preamble of claim 1. According to one aspect of the present invention, the above mentioned aim and objects, as well as yet other objects, which will become more apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a sealing device, on tubular and/or circular tanks, for firing membrane valves, for cleaning sleeve filters, comprising, inside a tubular and/or circular tank, a firing pipe having one end thereof coupled to a membrane solenoid valve and having the other end thereof tightly projecting from said tank, characterized in that said device further comprises a fitting element coupled to said firing pipe and including a recess for housing therein sealing means for providing a sealed connection with the outer surface of said tank, as well as with a sealing coupling surface for said solenoid valve, there being moreover provided a washer element, which can be coupled to said other end of said firing pipe and supporting sealing means for providing a sealed connection between said firing pipe and tank. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent hereinafter from the following detailed disclosure of a sealing device, on tubular and/or circular tanks, for firing membrane valves, for cleaning sleeve filters, which is illustrated, by way of an indicative, but not limitative, example, in the figures of the accompanying drawings, where: Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the device according to the present invention applied to a circular tank; Figure 2 is a partial cross-sectional view, in exploded form, illustrating the main component elements of the sealing device according to the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to the number references of the above mentioned drawing figures, the sealing device, on tubular and/or circular tanks, for firing membrane valves, for cleaning sleeve filters, comprises a tank 1, of circular and/or tubular shape, in the inside of which there is diametrically provided a firing pipe 2, which is coupled to a firing solenoid valve, generally indicated at the reference number 3. A main feature of the present invention is that, at one end of the firing pipe and, more specifically, at the top end thereof, as shown in the drawings, there is provided a fitting element 10 which includes a central portion 11, for coupling with the firing pipe, and being provided with an edge portion 12, including a recess having a shape mating that of the outer surface of the tank 1. Inside said recess there is provided an annular groove 13, in which there is engaged an O-ring 14, providing a sealing means between the fitting element 10 and outer surface of the tank. On the opposite face thereof, the fitting element 10 is provided with a surface 15 adapted to provide a sealed connection with the body of the solenoid valve. At the other end portion of the firing pipe, there is provided a washer element 20, of tapered configuration, which is coupled about the firing pipe 2 and which, at a central portion thereof, is provided with a groove 21 therein can be engaged a sealing gasket 22 operating between the firing pipe and tank so as to provide a sealed connection. In particular, the sealing gasket 22 is held in a set position by means of the washer element 20 which is clamped by a ring-nut 23 threaded on the firing pipe. Accordingly, with the disclosed arrangement, it is possible to provide a perfect sealing connection between the firing solenoid valve and tank, without the need of welding flanges on the outer surface in order to provide the sealed coupling. In practicing the invention, the used materials, provided that they are compatible with the intended use, as well as the contingent size and shapes, can be any, depending on requirements.

Claims: A sealing device, on tubular and/or circular tanks (1), for firing membrane valves, for cleaning sleeve filters, comprising, inside a tubular and/or circular tank (1), a firing pipe (2) having one end thereof coupled to said membrane valve (3) and having the other end thereof tightly projecting from said tank (1), characterized in that said device further comprises a fitting element (10) including a central portion (11) for coupling with said one end of said pipe (2), said fitting element (10) having an edge portion (12) adapted to conform to the external shape of said tank (1) and including a recess defining an annular groove (13) for housing therein sealing means (14) for providing a sealed connection with the outer surface of said tank (1), said fitting element (10) further defining a sealing coupling surface (15) for said solenoid valve, said sealing device further comprising, at the other end of said pipe (2) a washer element (20) of tapered configuration which is coupled about said other end of said pipe (2), said washer element (20) having a central portion thereof provided with a groove (21) therein is engaged a sealing gasket (22) providing a sealed connection between said other end of said pipe (2) and said tank (1), a ring nut (23) threaded on said other end of said pipe tightly clamping said washer element against the outer surface of said tank (1). A sealing device, according to Claim 1, characterized in that sealing means (14) comprise a sealing O-ring (14).

Inventors: MESSINA AURELIO, MESSINA, AURELIO
Applicants: SOUTHCORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, SOUTHCORP AUSTRALIA PTY. LTD.
Application year: 1994
Main classification: F16J15
IPC codes: B01D29, F16J15